It's a workout craze created in Thailand that's made its way to Wisconsin.
Swoop is one of just nine bungee gyms in the country according to its owner, Jerelynn Hilger. But she feels it's going to take off.
"I saw it on Facebook," Hilger said. "What is this about? It looks like fun. I'm a fitness instructor and it kind of went from there. It looked fun. The people were all smiling, laughing. It's fun. It's more fun than walking on the treadmill at the gym."
The people in the gym put a rock climbing harness on backward and a carabiner connects the bungee cord. There are different resistances to use depending on the weight of the user.
It looks daunting but is easy to learn. But it's more than just bouncing around in a studio.
"It's a workout," Hilger said. "You don't realize how hard you're working because you're having a great time but you're sweating. It's a good workout. Full body, muscle toning, cardio, core, everything."
Hilger likes to keep things small and intimate at her gym. She only runs classes with a handful of participants at a time. That way, she can focus on each of them and give them the attention they need to get into something that may seem intimidating.
But the small classes help build a community of bungee jumpers who don't want to let each other down.
"Just going to the gym wasn't working," Shannon Nook said. "The classes helped me build more of a community and really want to go workout."
Nook started going to Swoop in December. She was looking for something to help hold her accountable for her fitness. The bungee workouts did just that. At Swoop, she participated in a fitness challenge and won; something surprising to her.
"I was shocked," Nook said. "It felt good. I definitely felt better in my clothes and just energy-wise."
Hilger looks like an acrobatic pro, flying around the gym tethered to a bungee cord. It doesn't diminish the work her class does. They're capable of flying around just as well but it's something they've worked up to. It takes some practice to get used to the feeling of the bungee and know what they're capable of.
That's just fine by Hilger. She just wants people to enjoy it.
"It is really challenging," Hilger said. "It pushes you out of your comfort zone. There are people who walk in and midway through class they say, I can't do this. It's not for me. I say, just give it a couple minutes and by the end of the class, they're flying. I'd say 95 percent of the people who leave, love it."
The newness of the workout keeps it interesting for those in the gym. It requires movements they don't find in other workouts and engages their entire body.
"Doing treadmill and stuff I was doing, I didn't even know what my core was," Vanessa Rozman said. "I didn't know how to keep it tight, or how to work it out. Now, I'm working out to my full ability."
Hilger says people can burn anywhere from 800 to 1,200 calories during a one-hour workout. Also, since the resistance helps those with joint problems, she says she can accommodate anyone's fitness level so anyone can try it.
To learn more about bungee workouts at Swoop, you can visit their website.
